Tomography (Jun 2022)

Quantitative Chest CT Analysis to Measure Short-Term Sequelae of COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Monocentric Prospective Study

  • Ezio Lanza,
  • Angela Ammirabile,
  • Maddalena Casana,
  • Daria Pocaterra,
  • Federica Maria Pilar Tordato,
  • Benedetta Varisco,
  • Costanza Lisi,
  • Gaia Messana,
  • Luca Balzarini,
  • Paola Morelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/tomography8030130
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 3
pp. 1578 – 1585

Abstract

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(1) Background: Quantitative CT analysis (QCT) has demonstrated promising results in the prognosis prediction of patients affected by COVID-19. We implemented QCT not only at diagnosis but also at short-term follow-up, pairing it with a clinical examination in search of a correlation between residual respiratory symptoms and abnormal QCT results. (2) Methods: In this prospective monocentric trial performed during the “first wave” of the Italian pandemic, i.e., from March to May 2020, we aimed to test the relationship between %deltaCL (variation of %CL-compromised lung volume) and variations of symptoms-dyspnea, cough and chest pain-at follow-up clinical assessment after hospitalization. (3) Results: 282 patients (95 females, 34%) with a median age of 60 years (IQR, 51–69) were included. We reported a correlation between changing lung abnormalities measured by QCT, and residual symptoms at short-term follow up after COVID-19 pneumonia. Independently from age, a low percentage of surviving patients (1–4%) may present residual respiratory symptoms at approximately two months after discharge. QCT was able to quantify the extent of residual lung damage underlying such symptoms, as the reduction of both %PAL (poorly aerated lung) and %CL volumes was correlated to their disappearance. (4) Conclusions QCT may be used as an objective metric for the measurement of COVID-19 sequelae.

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